Fiesta Lady has edge in UAE Guineas

Fiesta Lady should once again get the better of her Saeed bin Suroor-trained stablemate Cocoa Beach as they renew their rivalry in the $250,000 UAE 1000 Guineas at Nad Al Sheba on Friday night.

The Argentine-bred Fiesta Lady, representing Godolphin, was an impressive 3 1/4-length winner over the ex-Chilean Cocoa Beach in a seven-furlong allowance on Jan. 17. Fiesta Lady should appreciate the added furlong of the Guineas more than her rival, who will carry the colors of Sheikh Mohammed's wife, Princess Haya of Jordan.

Fiesta Lady could be a star in the making. A Southern Halo filly, she won her last three starts in Argentina by a total of 22 lengths, among them the 1 1/4-mile Argentine Oaks and the 1 1/8-mile Group 2 Clasico Francisco J. Beasley. Frankie Dettori retains the ride.

By the Seattle Slew stallion Doneraile Court, Cocoa Beach had won her last three starts in Chile, all at the Group 3 level, by a total of 19 1/4 lengths. The UAE Guineas, however, will be her first start beyond 7 1/2 furlongs, and while she closed stoutly last time, Fiesta Lady may have an edge in stamina. Ted Durcan will ride the Chilean import.

This race has fallen to a Godolphin runner four times in its seven runnings, most notably in 2003, when it went to the subsequent Prix Vermeille winner, Mezzo Soprano. A victory by either Fiesta Lady of Cocoa Beach would give Suroor his sixth victory in this listed prep for the Feb. 28 UAE Oaks.